Lazy weekends are made of these...

...Mini blueberry and caramel bread puddings

I missed two weeks of beloved sweet treat weekends and I wanted to play catch up this weekend but... bam I was still feeling under the weather from earlier in the week. Making me not so hot to trot or willing to do too much. But still I longed for something sweet, but quickly made and with a bit of nostalgia.

So I whipped up some individual portions of bread pudding made from a leftover loaf of rustic french bread, soaked in a vanilla custard and then topped with dried blueberries or drizzled in salted caramel sauce. All things I keep op hand, easy to make, fun to do with the kids and so yummy and heartwarming. Instantly starting feeling better.The blueberries got a dusting of powdered sugar and the caramels got of course an extra dousing.

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Friday favs

This is what I’m loving this week..

Fashion
1. This peplum-sweater-floral combo from Markus Lupfer is so fly and alas for the hesitant sold-out. 2. Totally wicked is this Helmut Lang asymmetric skirt. 3. Love this open back and sheer hoodie with blouse like front.

Foodie
1. I already have a mortar and pestle but OMG this glass and oak version would rock the heck out of my kitchen counter. 2. The knife pot has space for knives plus all the utensils cluttering up my drawers. 3. These copper-lidded storage jars would make even the contents of a bag of plain old rice look good.

         

Kids

1. How fun would these balloon lamps look in a kids room? 2. Been looking for a cheaper big girls bed for my princess and fairy crazy daughter. Found it in this Parisian pink version. 3. A great replacement for the fading space invaders wall stickers in Mika’s room is this comic print to go with his comic tees.

                            

Design
1. I am so into brass and copper tones, that I´m digging this minimal wall valet. 2. A true duh moment, how simple and effective can a custom curtain rod be? 3. Same lines as the valet I love the color but also the scale and basic form of these nail shaped hooks.

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Another story

Last year I posted about the launching of &Other Stories. Almost a year later and I got to thinking how do I feel about this brand?

It definitely has a different vibe to Hennes & Mauritz and to Cos, despite being under the same umbrella. It falls between the accessibility of the first and the minimal lines of the second. Kind of a tossup between the two, actually. The clothes are less somber than Cos and also less directly trendy than H&M. The accessories are more polished than H&M and also a larger collection than that of COS.

 What I like best? The… accessories, hands down. I like the clothes as well and just recently bought a few duds but the shoe, bag and especially accessory line are what always gain my interest and sway me to purchase. The shoes have a slight edge to them that I rarely see in high street shops.  I have two pairs that I love, all leather right down to the sole and beautifully made, albeit they run a bit small and I wear a half size! And the accessories, everything from the bags to the jewelry to even the hair elastics make me sing. The things I have bought fall almost entirely in this category. My latest purchases are all jewelry including the cool cuffed ring on Instagram and jewelry edit. 

What do you think of this brand? For me &Other Stories is my go-to when it comes to accessories. They ship really quickly but I still can’t wait for them to open up shop in Antwerp and then Amsterdam, because sometimes a girl just needs to try stuff on.

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Divining rod

A question that keeps popping up in my thoughts is What are the keys I live by? Not where I want to go, the goals I want to achieve, but the markers that define the way that path is travelled. The character behind the actions, the drivers behind the thoughts. 

The major key for me is effort. Any and everything worth doing, is worth doing well. If you say you will, do so. Don’t half-ass it, drag your feet or worse yet never try. Leads to marker number two; show some passion, show your passion, in everything you do. So in tribute, here are some prints that say the same, albeit a bit more directly..

1. MM House design, 2. GFDA & 3. Paperchat.

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Friday favs

All the lovelies that caught my attention in week 6.

1. Because you, or me then, can’t have enough heels. A pair that feel like Saturday night fever meets Oxford.
2. Since the demise of the play tent, I have been on the lookout for a new kids hide-out? I think I found the inspiration I was looking for. Cushions, a lamp, a thin shelf for books. It’s starting to come together.
3. The mirror house is the  I've seen that truly disappears into the background, whatever that happens to be. 
4. I love design, I love James Bond, so of course I love this piggy bank titled Miss Monnipenni. May cost a few pennies, but the cutest way to start saving after that.
5. I do love my retro kitchen scale, would not trade for anything less than digital, or so I thought till I saw this even more old-school balancing version.
6. Wood, minimal design, colorful fabric cord, sign me up for the Tipi lamp from Designstudio Vandaag.

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The jewelry edit

I mentioned both in my goals and birthday edit posts tackling = downsizing and rehousing, my jewelry collection. So I figured why not share what else I want that freshly rejuvenated jewelry collection to contain. I mean let’s be honest, my three year old knows it and I know it... Jewelry is the crowning glory of dress-up. When you’re three, it’s an actual crown. For me though, jewelry plays mostly an understated and supporting role. I pretty much stick to pieces as a finishing touch. What that touch is, depends on the outfit. Here are a few pieces that would lend the right touch, from the delicate to the fun to the edgy.

Rings & things I adore this cuff with attached ring from &Other Stories (you can see it on my Instagram) and just in today this Fashionology bubble ring which I plan on wearing asap. Both are such great sale scores. Long on the wish list is a set of delicate midi rings in rose gold, which is my new favorite tone.

Studs & danglers I rarely wear statements earrings but I do like changing it up from studs every now and

again. And why now throw a statement or two into the mix? An Ear cuff to peek out from behind my streak of Kool-Aid brightness or just one long dangler from Loren Stewart for rock goddess appeal. These simple yet stunning exclamation point earrings and organic studs are for the more minimal and day-to-day needs.

Whips & chains There is always something dangling from neck. Whether long, short, thick or thin, necklaces are where it’s at for me. Hardly a day to day piece, but I love the idea of body chain over a plain t-shirt. And when there are as pretty as this one, I say go for it. I like a bit of cheek, so I am so digging this neck rudeness. And to balance the rude we need a bit of sweet and this little arrow necklace I bought at Label in Eindhoven reminds be of V-day (I also have the pistol bracelet in cause I don't catch him with Cupid's bow and arrow).

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